It is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation to helpothers and to respect the aged and take care of children. Yang Xiaoping, wholives in Zhuxianghu village, Maojiagang Town, Gong’an County, has taken care ofthe elderly as a responsibility for nearly 20 years, winning praise from thevillagers.

As usual, when it is mealtime, Yang Xiaoping and his wifewould bring meals to Zhou Shangkui, an old man who is guaranteed food,clothing, medical care, housing and burial expenses by the commune. Since 2000,Yang Xiaoping has regularly sent some living necessities to Zhou Shangkui. As hegrows older and older, the old man slowly loses his ability to work and cannottake care of himself, so Yang Xiaoping is responsible for his life.

Ai Lanlan, chairman of Women's League in Zhuxianghuvillage, Maojiagang Town, Gong’an County: "I am concerned about him allthe time. After I finish eating, I will prepare one meal for him and send it tohim before I go out to work. I don’t want him to have an empty stomach."

Later, Yang Xiaoping served as the director of thevillage committee. His wife also went to Wuhan to take care of their grandson.Worrying about being unable to take care of Zhou Shangkui due to his busy work,Yang also thought about sending the old man to the welfare home to spend hisremaining years.

Yang Xiaoping said, "The reason why I wanted to sendhim to the welfare home is that I think he can be better cared for there thanat home."

However, the old man, who has long regarded Yang Xiaopingas his loved one,  firmly rejected thestrange environment and strangers after he was sent to the welfare home.

Yang Xiaoping said, "I sent him to the welfare home.Before I got home, a call from welfare home told me that he showed hisreluctance to stay there by breaking doors and windows, and insisted on goinghome. When I came home, I phoned my wife about this situation. My wife saidthat if I still care for him at home, we should treat him as our parentsbecause everyone will get old."

Yang Xiaoping's wife, Chen Aizhen, is a simple andkind-hearted rural woman. She has long been supporting and helping her husbandto take care of Zhou Shangkui.

Chen Aizhen said, "I think we should have consciencewhen we do anything. If I let him alone when he is starving, I would feelguilty. "

In order to improve the old man's life, Yang Xiaopingbuilt a new house for him in the village, and provided furniture, clothes,quilts and other items.

Yang Xiaoping: "I am a Party member. For elderlypersons of no family in this place, especially those like Zhou Shangkui, whohave no one to depend on, I must take the responsibilities as a Party memberand cadre to care for the old people as always."

In recent years, most of the young people in the villagehave been out to work. There are more and more left-behind elderly people andleft-behind children at home. Yang Xiaoping, who lives in the countryside, iskeenly aware of the current situation of the left behind population in thecountryside. Whenever he is free, he will visit the left-behind elderly personsand children in the village and show concern for them. 

"Director Yang is really good. He often comes to seeus, gives us money, and takes care of us. He is really so kind to us."said Xu Dongxiu, a villager in Zhuxianghu Village, Maojiagang Town, Gong’anCounty.

Since his two daughters got married, Yang Xiaoping hasmore energy to take care of the villagers. His wife, Chen Aizhen, said that"Be ready to help others" is a family motto passed down by theirforefathers, and the motto has been engraved in the hearts of the family.

Chen Aizhen said, "Parents taught us to do goodthings. We also taught our children to help others since their childhood.Everyone should do good things. I am concerned about those poor people. If I donothing for them, it goes against my conscience, so I must show my concern tothem. It’s my nature. "

Yang Xiaoping said, "It's a fine tradition of theChinese nation to help others and to respect the old and love the young. As aParty member, I should carry forward and inherit it. In future, I will caremore for these empty nesters and left-behind children, so that they can livewith security and feel the warmth of home."